TRAVEL

March 11. First stop is was Saint Fin Barr. It was originally a Monastery,  the first mention of a date was  the recorded death of the Abbot of the Monastery in 682AD so it is at least that old.  It was known to have been a place frequently attacked by Vikings.  I have only watched a few episodes of The Vikings on history channel and interesting enough two of them were repeats and it was on the first attach of a monastery.  So I could image the fear of the monks and the awe of the Vikings to the beauty of this place.  The monastery was become a place of worship with regular mass. It has been renamed Saint Fin Barr.

Driving up to it I was drawn to the cemetery, but our time was very tight and Maria had arranged a quick walk thru at no charge.  I was feeling sad that there would not be time.  Once we went in there had been a miscommunication and there would be a discounted fee to walk thru.  I chose not to go inside but rather wander thru the grave yard in back.  From this vantage point I could get a view of the massive church with all it's glory.  Looking up I could see the golden angel on top of the second highest peak.  The sun was shining on her and she was appeared to just sparkle.   The sides of the church had gargoyles at the end of each roof beam.  Approaching the massive front entrance you are greater with statues of monks on either side.  I felt the were more greeting with welcome rather than guarding.

Venturing to the back I wandering thru the headstones.  Some were flat on what appeared to be a walk way incased in cement. It took a minute for me to realize it was a continuous  row of tombs not a sidewalk.  

I was really drawen to a large tree with three tomb stones laying flat circling the tree. The one that called me was for a young wife of 29 years. Mary. She died in April 1815.  The words written in tribute to her were of uncheck love and sorrow.